Palestine Football Association called off

Lahore – Pakistan, Oct 07, 2012: Due to the late intimation from Sports Board Punjab, the FIFA DAY Friendly matches with Palestine national football team were called off by Palestine Football Association. Due to this non-sports friendly attitude of Sports Board Punjab, the peoples of Punjab have missed an International Sport Event to develop the culture of Sports in the Punjab Province, thereby keeping youth busy in healthy sporting activities.

According to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), it was mentioned that due to the very late reply from Sports Board Punjab about the availability of Punjab Stadium, the Palestine Football Association was forced to cancel their tour to Pakistan. Palestine Football Association informed that due to the late intimation of the venue they can’t come in such a short frame of time for already fixed dates of FIFA friendly matches (matches of 12 and 16 October, 2012).

PFF feels that Pakistan missed such a great opportunity to Host these international matches to celebrate the FIFA Day only due to non-professional approach of the Sports Board Punjab and Pakistan Sports Board. Sports Board Punjab should and must have informed PFF about the availability of the Punjab Stadium well in time. Simultaneously, Pakistan missed the great opportunity to showcase its softer image to the world. PFF strongly feels that Chief Minister of Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif should take strong notice of the lack of sports friendly approach of Sports Board Punjab management.